Booed and Walked Out On at Duke University Amid Pro-Palestine Protests

At the 2024 commencement ceremony of Duke University, Jerry Seinfeld delivered a speech and received an honorary degree—an appearance that quickly became a flashpoint for student-led protest. As Seinfeld took the stage, a significant number of graduates and attendees booed, walked out, and waved Palestinian flags in protest of his outspoken support for Israel, a state increasingly condemned for its ongoing military assault on Gaza and treatment of Palestinians. Rather than being seen as a moment of celebration, Seinfeld’s presence ignited outrage among students who viewed his platforming as a tacit endorsement of genocide and apartheid. The protest was not simply about political disagreement—it was a direct confrontation of a celebrity who has used his fame to normalize a violent regime, while showing no regard for the suffering of millions under occupation. This moment at Duke reflects a broader wave of campus resistance to institutional complicity, where students are refusing to stay silent as universities invite and honor figures tied to oppressive systems. It also marks a growing refusal to separate entertainment from accountability—especially when the entertainer in question openly backs a government accused of ethnic cleansing.